Method of and apparatus for storing and discharging coal, &amp;c.



H. ADAMS. METHOD OF AND APPkRATUS FOR STORING AND DISCHARGING COAL 6L0.

Patented July 31, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I APPLlCATION FILED MAR. 12, 1937.

H. ADAMS.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STORING AND DISCHARGING COAL, 8w.

APPLICATION man MAR. 12- 9.1.2..

1 334,7 10. Patented July 31, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- .2/5. f. .5525: -D D fl l'liz 41705: [/2 v entai':

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY ADAMS, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR STORING AND DISCHARGING COAL, 8co- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed March 12, 1917. Serial No. 154,122.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing in New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Storing and Discharging Coal, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved method of, and appa: ratus for carrying the same into effect, for storing and delivering coal, or other like material, in such manner that the degradation and comminuting of the larger particles into smaller, and the reduction of same into practically unsalable small sizes resulting from the attrition of the coal in its passage through the receptacles, bins or pockets and delivery chutes will be reduced to a mimmum.

In the storage of coal it has become quite a problem to so store the coal that the same can be handled with the least breakage to the coal. It has been found that while it is cheaper and more convenient to store the same in piles of-great altitude, the weight of the coal, coupled with its impact and movement upon entrance and exit is sufficient to considerably fracture the pieces near the bottom; and it has further been found that when in the removal of coal the same is drawn from the bottom, the rubbing and scraping of the pieces upon one another is accompanied with very detrimental, like results; and it has also been found that when the coal is drawn from the top, the resulting avalanching of the coal-pile will cause such scraping and rubbing of the pieces against one another, that the undesirable fine coal is thereby produced in great quantity, with the consequent destruction and degradation of the better grades of larger coal.

The method for delivering and storing coal etc., and the apparatus for carrying such method into effect hereln shown, de-

scribed and claimed is a modification of, and

an improvement upon the method, described and claimed, and the apparatus for carrying such method into effect, shown in my copending application Serial No. 139,293, filed December 28, 1916, and embodies the same main fundamental principle, while differing therefrom in certain additions and improvements.

I have found in practice that to prevent degradation of the coal, the main essential conslsts in confining the coal to be delivered as near as may be to a descending vertical delivery column or columns, and in the feeding of the coal contained in the main body portion of the pocket, to such delivery column or columns to feed the same not alone at the top, but also at intermediate points, whereby, while the delivery-vertical telegraphchute or trough is kept constantly filled from top to bottom with coal free to move through such delivery chute by gravity, the main body-portion of the coal, contained in the pocket or bin, is supported at intervals, by baffle-plates, in such manner that such main body will have the coal at the bottom under practically no greater pressure than the top portion at a slight distance from the top.

To such ends my invention consists in substance of the method of storing and delivering coal hereinafter set forth describedand claimed, and in the apparatus for carrying such method into effect, which I have found efiicient for such purpose, herein likewise set forth, wherein a plurality of storage-bins or receptacles are arranged adjacent to one another, in such manner that a minimum of material is used in the formation of such plurality of storage-bins etc., each bin-erreceptacle having located at one side thereof a substantially vertical delivery passage telegraph-trough or chute centrally located, flanked on either side by auxiliary delivery telegraph-troughs or chutes communicating with the central delivery telegraph-trough or chute only at the bottom. All such delivery telegraph-troughs or chutes being, at the forward front faces, in communication, practically throughout their entire length from top to bottom with the storage bin, and a plurality of reversely inclined supporting baffle-plates being located in such main-body portion whereby the path of the main-body of coal descending through the bin will be of zig-zag form, and the coal constantly fed to the delivery telegraph-troughs or chutes at all points Where cavities are formed therein by the swift flowing out of the coal.

invention, is'fully shown, described and claimed in the following specification of which the accompanying drawings form a part, wherein similar letters and numerals of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1. is a view in central vertical section of a nest or battery of three storage and delivery coal-pockets or bins of my improved form, built in one homogeneous structure of a minimum of material.

Fig. 2, is a top view of one of such individual pockets, looking from the top downward. in the direction of the arrow, taken in section on the line 22 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3. is a diagrammatic view substantially similar to Fig. 2 differing therefrom only in the fact that the flow-paths of the body of coal from the main-body portionof the bin to the telegraph delivery chutes are indicated by proper shading.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 are diagrammatic views in substantially central vertical longitudinal section of the central main vertical delivery telegraph or chute; Fig. 4 showing such pocket completely filled and ready for delivery. and Fig. 5 showing the position assumed by the coal when the bin has been partly emptied.

Referring to the drawings:

My improved coal storage bins E may be formed of any desired material, such as wood, steel, concrete or reinforced concrete, etc., according to the size and position. When wood or concrete is used for the main body of the structure to avoid frictional wear and for purposes of strength, the top and side surfaces with which the coal is in contact while in motion, in its passage to the delivery orifice at the bottom of the device, is usually formed of sheet-steel.

The reference letter A designates the supporting base portion of my improved storage and delivery bins for coal etc. formed of wood or metal framework, through the spaces of which carts, cars and other suitable movable receptacles B, may be brought into and out of communication with the delivery-orifices 10, closed by the slide gates 10, of the various vertical main delivery central telegraph-troughs or chutes C. The

reference numeral 11 designates the outerwall of the right hand bin of the battery of three bins shown which also forms the outer wall of the central main delivery telegraphtrough and of the flanking, side auxiliary delivery telegraph troughs or chutes C.

The reference numeral 12, indicates like walls opposed to the walls 11 and 12, similar to thewall'll. and performing the same functions, for their respective vertical delivery telegraph-troughs or chutes. The referenceletter D designates the receivinghoppers of each of the separate storage-bins delivery orifices or gate ways 10.

into which the coal is'dropped by gravity from cart-s or cars usually the latter, but I have not deemed it essential to show such carts or cars or the supporting tracks therefor. I i

. Secured at the ends to the wallsF,within each of the storage-bins E, (Fig. 2) are alternately placed downwardly inclined supporting baflie-plates G and G, usually having their inclination at an angle of about 45 to the vertical; fiowage spaces H being leftbetween the lower ends of each of such plates and the adjacent upper base surfaces of the immediately adjacent plate located upon the opposite side below the same. And, for purposes of additional strength all the bafiie-plates G and G are preferably provided at the rear with downwardly extend :ing strengthening flanges 13, which, in the three delivery telegraph troughs or chutes,

are the vertical horizontally disposed chute baflie-plates 14, each preferably located substantially midway between the bases of each of the immediately adjacent inclined bafileplates G.

At the bottom of each of the storage-bins E, the last right hand baffle-plate G, directs a certain portion of the coal into the pocket L, having an outlet-gate 15 at the bottom closed by a suitable gate 15, similar to the slide-gates 10', of the delivery-orifices 10, of the vertical central delivery telegraphtroughs or chutes C. I

For the purpose of delivering the coal to barges or other carrier-vehicles O, of such size as to be incapable of passing under the storage-bins as do the cars or carts'B, an inclined chute or chutes I (Fig. 1) which may be permanent or movable, so as to be shifted from one storage bin to another or entirely removable, are usually and preferably provided. 7

The telegraph-trough or chute-walls 17, dividing the central delivery telegraphtrough or chute C from the flanking like central chute C, as indicated at 20 of Fig.

1, in such manner that the coal in such side chutes C will be directed into the central chute C, at the bottom, and thence to the By the construction 'of each of the pock ets shown, it will be seen that the supporting bafiie-plates are so inclined and so arranged respectively to one another that the main body of the stored coal in the main body portion of the bin, is supported at a plurality of points, whereby the pressure upon the coal at the bottom is reduced to a minimum. In other words the weight of thecoal is divided, and resting upon inclines, (the baffle plates) at a plurality of points there will be no more pressure upon' the coal at -the bottom, no matter how high the stack of coal in the mainbody portion of the bin is, than the weight of each of the several bodies between any two of the baffle-plates, while at the same time by reason of the inclination of the baflle-plates, the passage of the coal by gravity through the main-body portion of the bins is a tortuous or zig-zag path from baffle-plate to baflie-plate; whereby the flowage therethrough is slowed, while at the same time the coal immediately to be delivered is unimpeded in its gravitational movement vertically downward in the delivery chute or chutes. And the inner wall surfaces of both the bin and the delivery-chutes being smooth and usually of sheet-steel, the friction of the particles of coal passing down through such delivery chutes in con tact with such walls, is practically reduced to a minimum; while at the same time the narrow body of coal in the central delivery chute C, passing down quickly and freely upon the opening of the gate 10, releasing the pressure at the bottom of the pile; the attritive action of the particles of coal one against theother will be likewise reduced to a minimum. This especially for the reason that the coal passing over the baflie-plates will be directed into the forward open front portions of the three chutes C and C at an angle of about 45, at regular intervals from top to bottom of the main-body of coal contained in the main-body portion of the bin or receptacle.

As the main body of the coal lowers at the top it avalanches downward in substantially concaved flowage paths or channels, one such flowage path or channel K, Fig. 3, indicated by the shading, centrally avalanching from the top in a central concaved stream into the open front of the central main delivery telegraph, trough or chute C; while at the same time the flanking side auxiliary delivery telegraph troughs or chutes C, are kept filled in like manner by flowage down like concaved top side-streams, indicated by the shading K, and as the coal in the main telegraph trough or chute passes rapidly by gravity down and out through the gate 10, the coal in such side chutes is directed by the outer inclined bottom portion of the outer walls 17, the bottom portion of the main delivery-chute C, to fill any bottom voids therein as indicated at 18 of Fig. 1; whereby the flow of the coal through the gate 10, while being constant has such a slight choking at the gate, that while the delivery is free there is only a sliding and not a dropping or impacting movement in any of the chutes, whereby the degradation of the coal and the reduction of the same to fines is reduced to a minimum. In this action and movement of the coal the horizontal vertical bathe-plates 14, while allowing free motion of the coal both in the main central body portion of the bin, and also in the vertical delivery chute assists in preventing flowage of the coal in such chutes back into the main body portion, when once it has entered a delivery chute.

It is evident that many modifications in the construction and arrangement of the va-- rious parts of my improved coal storage and delivery apparatus herein shown, and also in my im roved method or process of storing and elivering coal etc, without degradation, and in the several steps thereof which may be carried out by use of such apparatus herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the scope of my invention or inventions as herein shown, described and claimed, and I do not intend to limit myself to the exact construction, nor the exact sequence of steps of such process or method set forth.

I claim;

1. The hereinbefore described method of storing and removing coal etc., from storage comprising the limiting of that portion of the coal to be immediately delivered to a substantially upright vertical gravitational moving delivery body in free contact at intervals from top to bottom with the mainbody of coal on one face, and bafiiing the gravitational movement of the main-body of coal into a tortuous path so that the same will be delivered to the upright vertical gravitational moving portion at a plurality of points as Voids are formed at any point in the delivery body.

2. The hereinbefore described method of storing and removing coal etc., from storage comprising the limiting of that portion of the coal to be immediately delivered to a substantially upright vertical gravitational moving delivery body in free contact at intervals from top to bottom with the mainbody of coal on one face; and bafiiing the gravitational movement of the main-body of coal'into a tortuous path so that the same will be delivered to the upright vertical gravitational moving portion at a plurality of points as voids are formed at any point in the delivery-body; the delivery-body being in the form of a central and two flanking bodies in substantially free communication on the inner face with the main-body of stored material, and the material of the flanking delivery bodies being directed to and in contact with the central main-body only at the bottom adjacent to the outlet delivery orifice.

3. The hereinbefore described method of storin comprising the limiting of that portion of the coal to be immediately delivered to a substantially upright vertical gravitationally moving delivery-body, in free contact at intervals from top to bottom with themainbody of coal onone face and battling the gravitational movement of the main body of the coal into a tortuous path so that the same will be delivered to the upright vertical gravitational moving portion at a plurality of points simultaneously whenever and Wherever a void is formed in the deliverybody.

4. The hereinbefore'described method of storing andremoving coal. etc., therefrom comprising the limiting of that portion of the coal to be immediately-delivered" to a substantially upright vertical gravitationally moving delivery-body in free contact at intervals from top to bottom with the mainbody of coal on-the inner-face at the vertical 'center of the main bodyyand bathing and gravitational movement of the main body of the coal into a tortuous path so that the same will be delivered to the upright ,VeI tical gravitational moving portion at a plurality of points simultaneously whenever and wherever a void is formed in the delivery-body.

5. The hereinbefore described method of storing and removing coal etc., therefrom,

comprising the limiting of that portion of the coal to be immediately delivered to a substantially upright vertical gravitationally moving delivery-body in free contact at intervals from top to bottom with the main-- body of coal on the inner faceat the vertical center of themain-body; baflhngand gravitational movement of the main body of coal into a tortuous path so that the same will be delivered to the upright vertical gravitational moving portion at a plurality of points simultaneously whenever and wherever a void is formed in the delivery-body; and simultaneously with the fall of the coal 7 of the main delivery-body, feeding coal to auxiliary delivery, bodies in contact at the face with the centralImain-body located on voids occur there. 7

6. Ina device of the class described, storage-bin or pocket means for delivering a coal, etc., for storage thereto at the top; a

plurality ofretarding battle-plates located in the bin alternately reversely inclined to one another so as to' cause the coal'to flow,

downward in a tortuous or zig-zag ath;

and removing coal etc., therefrom,

and a vertical gravity delivery telegraph passage or chute at a side of such tortuous path havmg narrow vertical baffle-plates horizontally disposed at the abutting face midway between each pair of baflle-plates,

coal, etc., for storage thereto at the top; a plurality of, retarding baflle-plates located in thebinalternately reversely inclined'to one another so as to cause the coal to flow downward in a tortuous or zig-zag path; and a vertical gravity delivery telegraph passage or'chute at aside of such tortuous '70 whereby While the coal to be immediately I delivered descends in a substantially straight vertical path, the main bodyof stored coal exterior to the delivery-chute follows a tor path, having a delivery gate at the bottom and having narrow vertical baffle-plates horizontally disposed-at the abutting-face midway between each pair of baflle-plates;

"whereby, while the coal to be immediately delivered descends in a substantially straight vertical path, the main-body of stored coal exterior to the delivery-chute followsatortuous path and is fed-to the delivery-chute at a plurality of superposed horizontal points, whenever a void may be formed;

therein as the coal flows out.

8. In a device of the class described, a storage-bin or pocket, means for delivering coal, etc., for storage thereto at the top; a plurality, of retarding battle-plates located in the bin alternately reversely inclined to one another so as tocause the coal to flow downward in a tortuous or zig-zagpath; a

vertical gravitydelivery telegraph passage or chute at a side of such tortuous path, having a delivery-gate at the bottom and having narrow vertical baffle-plates horizontally dis posed at the abutting-face midway between each pair of bafile-plates; whereby, while the coal to be immediately delivered descends in a substantially straight vertical path, the main body of stored coal exterior to the delivery-chute follows a tortuous path and is fed to the delivery-chute at a plurality of superposed horizontal points, whenever a void may be formed therein as the coal flows out, and an auxiliary delivery telegraph or chute communicating in like manner with the storage-bin main-body connected with the main-delivery telegraph or chute adjacent to the bottom and delivery-gate.

9. In a device of the class described, a storage-bin or pocket, means for delivering coal, etc., for storage thereto at the top; a plurality of retarding baffle-plates located inthe bin alternately reversely inclined to one another so as to cause the coal to flow downward in a tortuous or zig-zag path; and a vertical gravity delivery telegraph passage or chute at a side of such tortuous path having narrow vertical bathe-plates horizontally disposed at the abutting face midway between each pair of baffle-plates, whereby while the coal to be immediately delivered descends in a substantially straight vertical path, the main body of stored coal exterior to the delivery-chute follows a tortuous path and is fed to the delivery-chute at a plurality of superposed horizontal points whenever a void may be formed therein, as the coal flows out, the last bottom bathe-plate being inclined away from the delivery telegraph or chute; and an auxiliary delivery-gate located in the bin adjacent to the bottom of such last bottom bafiie-plate.

10. In a device of the class described, a storage-bin or pocket, means for delivering coal, etc., for storage thereto at the top; a plurality of retarding bafile-plates located in the bin alternately reversely inclined to one another so as to cause the coal to flow downward in a tortuous or zig-zag path; and a vertical gravity delivery telegraph passage or chute at a side of such tortuous path, having a delivery-gate at the bottom and having narrow vertical bafile-plates horizontally disposed at the abutting-face midway between each pair of baffle-plates; whereby, while the coal to be immediately delivered descends in a substantially straight vertical path, the main-body of stored coal exterior to the delivery-chute follows a tortuous path and is fed to the delivery-chute at a plurality of superposed horizontal points, whenever a void may be formed therein as the coal flows out, the last bottom bafile-plate being inclined away from the delivery telegraph or chute; and an auxiliary delivery gate located in the bin adjacent to the bottom of such last bottom bathe-plate.

HENRY ADAMS. Witnesses:

NATHAN BELoHER, JOHN CoRooRAN. 

